Rain or shine, Wilson has shot in John Henry Stakes

The $50,000 John Henry Stakes is back for Saturday night at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., after a tropical storm led to its cancellation last weekend. All the major players have returned, including Grade 3 winner Mocito Rojo.

In the Navy, a multiple stakes winner, also was entered back in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, as was Harlan Selection, who has won his last four starts. The forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of rain and a high of 88 degrees, according to The Weather Channel.

The weather will play a role in the plans for stablemates Harlan Selection and Mocito Rojo, who is coming off three consecutive main-track stakes wins, including the $100,000 Evangeline Mile in his most recent out June 22.

“If it comes off the turf, we’ll run both horses,” said Shane Wilson, who trains the coupled Mocito Rojo and Harlan Selection for Wayne T. Davis. “If it stays on the turf, I’ll scratch Mocito Rojo and just run Harlan Selection.”

Mocito Rojo was a nose winner of the Evangeline Mile over a field that included Pioneer Spirit, who returned in his next start to capture the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial for the second year in a row July 13 at Indiana Grand.

“He’s bounced out of the last race well,” Wilson said of Mocito Rojo. “This would be a good prep for him to come back Aug. 23 at Remington going a mile and an eighth in the Governor’s Cup. If he doesn’t run Saturday, he’ll get back on the workout schedule.”

Filemon Rodriguez will ride Mocito Rojo and also has been named on Harlan Selection.

:: Get PPs, Clocker Reports, picks, and more from DRF's Saratoga/Del Mar One-Stop Shop

In the Navy will break from post 2 in the nine-horse field after drawing post 8 for the John Henry last weekend.

“We got a better post – inside – which he likes the rail,” said trainer Scott Gelner.

In the Navy comes off a pacesetting effort in the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Turf on May 25 at Evangeline. He was caught on the wire and finished second by a neck while making his first start in two months.

“He ran a big race off of a layoff,” Gelner said. “He never saw that horse come up on the outside.

“A jump after the wire, he was back in front.”

Diego Saenz has the mount on In the Navy.